Pages

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

"Buster Wants to Fish!"

Ok so maybe it wasn't as comical as that scene from "A River Runs Through It", but when my brother finally asked me to take him out fly fishing, the thought did pass through my mind.

I have been waiting patiently for the day when my brother actually had the time to get out on the water with me. We have had many adventures over the years together, but we just never seemed to line up our schedules for a real fly fishing trip. Well a few weeks ago it happened. Lance was able to get up to Pittsburg and I did not have a guide trip, so we went for it! After gearing up at the camp and making sure that he did indeed have a fishing license, (which we had to reprint at Treats and Treasures), we were off to the river!
The situation was classic. The anticipation of all the fish I would be able to help him catch was finally coming into sight! You see, I have been telling him for years how he would be catching fish after fish and how my clients have been having great days lately. In my head it was going to be easy. I guess that was my first mistake. I should have known better, as teaching a family member is always one of the trickiest things to do.
Now I don't want you to get the wrong idea. He caught fish. It just took us a bit longer to make it happen than I had initially thought it might. We started off in the "Bear Pool" which had been producing quite well as of late, and after an hour of fishing had only one fish on that came unbuttoned before we could get it to net. It was certainly not the fisherman's fault either. His hook sets were quick and strong, his presentation was dang near flawless, but the fish were being fish. Subtle takes and short strikes were the theme of the day. We couldn't just have one of those afternoons where the fish were just slamming the flies to make it easy?! Nope. But that is fishing.
We kept moving down river and finally got into a couple of runs where the fish were doing their normal feeding and what a difference. Lance was hooking up and we were landing fish! Now I do remember his first fish that he landed and I do remember the big battle with a monster that got away. But most of all I remember the things in between. I remember how I was looking forward to that day. I remember how we hiked through the woods from pool to pool and how we talked about fly fishing and life in general. I remember thinking we should do this more often. I remember the feeling that not everyone gets to share an afternoon on the water with their brother doing their favorite pastime and how lucky we were to have had that opportunity.
The day came to a close and we headed back to the camp for some food and drinks. All I am left with now is that fond memory and the anticipation of the next time that we can venture back into the river as brothers.